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SUMMARY:The Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year\, making up 40% of the world’s military spending. Is this spending really keeping America safe? \nBill Hartung\, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft\, argues that not only is this spending not keeping America safe\, but it is endangering both the U.S. and the world at large. \nOn January 21st\, Hartung joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to reveal how the American military industrial complex operates\, its key players – from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to lobbyists and the Pentagon’s top contractors – and how we can secure America’s future and prosperity by re-envisioning America’s trillion-dollar war machine. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, January 21 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nWilliam D. Hartung is a senior fellow at the Quincy Institute\, focusing on the arms industry and US military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Bill is the co-author\, with Ben Freeman\, of the recently released The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. \nBill previously directed programs at the New America Foundation and the World Policy Institute. He also worked as a speechwriter and policy analyst for New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams. Hartung’s articles on security issues have appeared in the New York Times\, the Washington Post\, the Los Angeles Times\, The Nation\, and the World Policy Journal. \nHe has been a featured expert on national security issues on CBS 60 Minutes\, NBC Nightly News\, the PBS Newshour\, CNN\, Fox News\, and scores of local\, regional\, and international TV and radio outlets. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n \nThe Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home by William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman \nA hard-hitting investigation into how the Pentagon’s runaway spending embroils America in foreign wars\, squanders its wealth\, and enriches a privileged elite\n“A damning indictment of the conflicts of interest running rampant in the defense establishment.”―Publishers Weekly\nAmerica spends nearly a trillion dollars a year on its military. This extraordinary spending not only detracts from our ability to address pressing social problems but compels us into foreign wars to justify our vast arsenal. Sold to us in the name of “security\,” our military industrial complex actually makes us far less safe. \nTop policy experts William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman follow the profits of militarism from traditional Pentagon contractors\, which receive more than half of the Pentagon’s budget\, to the upstart high-tech firms that shamelessly promote unproven and destabilizing technologies. They unmask the enablers of the war machine—politicians\, lobbyists\, the media\, Hollywood\, think tanks\, and so many more—whose work enriches a wealthy elite at the expense of everybody else\, spreading conflict around the world and embroiling America in endless wars. \nA damning tour de force\, The Trillion Dollar War Machine shows who is pulling the strings and pushing for war\, and offers a blueprint for how we can shut down the war machine and restore American security and prosperity. \nGet yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/trillion-dollar-war-machine-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:[Postponed] Greenland\, Denmark\, & the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Thank you for your interest in this event. Unfortunately\, this discussion has been postponed as MG Jensen’s schedule has changed due to the unprecedented current events that require his full attention. \nThe Embassy of Denmark would like to share that MG Jensen highly values this discourse and we’re working hard to reschedule. We will announce the new date and time as soon as MG Jensen’s schedule and the diplomatic situation allows. Please check back soon. \nAny questions\, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Council at: info@ctwac.org. \n\nThe U.S. has stated its desire to take Greenland – by purchase or by force. \nPresident Trump claims the island is a strategic Arctic asset\, and that U.S. ownership would deter Russia and China. Denmark’s leadership states the island is “not for sale\,” and the use of military force to take Greenland could mean the end of NATO. Greenland itself prefers Denmark\, according to its Prime Minister. \nAs this conflict unfolds between NATO allies\, Major General Karsten Jensen\, Defence Attache of Denmark to the U.S. joins the Council to speak with us directly. \nRSVP now to hear directly from Denmark’s top military representative in the U.S.\, on Denmark’s response to U.S. threats and the future of the Denmark\, Greenland\, and the U.S. \nThe Details \nWhen: Wednesday\, Jan. 21 | 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET Postponed\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/greenland-denmark-us/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:250 Years of American Diplomacy
DESCRIPTION:Featuring Michael Brenes\, Director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale\n\n\n\nAs the United States approaches its 250th anniversary\, we’re taking a closer look at the powerful force that is U.S. diplomacy. \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut and the Pequot Library invite you to a special evening exploring the evolution of U.S. diplomacy – from pivotal decisions to defining figures and from the impact of U.S. leadership on world history to where the U.S. is headed in the century ahead. \nHow did diplomacy shape the nation into a superpower and where is the U.S. headed next? RSVP to find out. \n\nDetails\nThursday\, January 15\, 2026 | 6pm – 7:30pm\nPequot Library\, 720 Pequot Ave\, Southport\nTickets: No Charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\nMichael Brenes is co-director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy and lecturer in history at Yale University. \nHis research interests include United States foreign policy\, political history\, and political economy. He is the author of For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy\, published by University of Massachusetts Press in 2020\, and the co-editor (with Daniel Bessner) of Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations\, published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2024. His next book\, co-authored with Van Jackson\, is titled The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy\, and will be published by Yale University Press in January 2025. \nIn addition to his academic articles and book chapters\, his work has been published in The New York Times\, The New Republic\, Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Politico\, Dissent\, Boston Review\, The Nation\, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. \nHe is currently writing a history of the War and Terror from the 1990s to the present\, to be published by Grove/Atlantic. He is also finalizing a co-edited volume with Daniel Bessner on Cold War liberalism\, which is under contract with Cambridge University Press. \n\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/250-years-of-american-diplomacy/
LOCATION:Pequot Library\, 720 Pequot Ave\, Fairfield\, CT\, 06890\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel's Mossad | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:How did Mossad\, Israel’s intelligence service\, come to be one of the world’s most notorious and prominent players in global intelligence? Just look to Meir Dagan\, the Mossad’s former director who transformed the service into the leading force in counterterrorism and espionage it is today. \nSamuel Katz\, bestselling author of The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad in to the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force\, joins WorldNow to introduce us to the former Mossad director. \nKatz will give us an inside look at Dagan’s leadership and the operations carried out during his tenure\, including counterterrorism efforts\, covert missions related to Iran’s nuclear program\, and expanded intelligence cooperation with international partners – and how he transformed modern espionage and the Middle East. \nThe details: \nWhen: Wednesday\, January 14 | 7:00PM EST / 6PM Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nSamuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict\, military and law enforcement special operations\, espionage\, and counterterrorism. He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world\, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report\, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community. Katz lectures police agencies and military commands around the world on the history of terrorism\, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n\nAbout the Book\nThe Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad into the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force by Samuel M. Katz \nFrom a New York Times bestselling author and an expert on Middle Eastern conflict comes a riveting biography of Meir Dagan\, the legendary Mossad director who transformed Israel’s intelligence service into a global powerhouse of espionage and counterterrorism.\nIn The Architect of Espionage\, Samuel M. Katz masterfully chronicles the life of Meir Dagan\, a visionary covert warfare veteran who revolutionized the art of intelligence and espionage. Born in the shadows of the Holocaust\, his life personified the modern history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Dagan’s journey embodies decisive action\, innovative thought\, and bold leadership under fire. His tenure as the head of the Mossad marked a transformative era in Israel’s history\, reshaping the agency into a formidable global force. \nDagan spent thirty-two years in uniform\, and under his eight-year leadership\, Mossad orchestrated a series of high-stakes missions\, including targeted assassinations\, clandestine attempts to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power\, and the covert expansion of Israel’s strategic collaborations with members of the global intelligence fraternity\, notably with the CIA. These operations not only bolstered Israel’s security but also altered the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. \nKatz brings to life the portrait of a spymaster whose influence extended far beyond Israel’s borders\, shaping intelligence relationships across the Middle East and worldwide. \nFor anyone captivated by espionage thrillers or historical biographies\, this is an essential and timely read\, providing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential spymasters of our era. \nGet yourself a copy of The Architect of Espionage on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-architect-of-espionage-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | January 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n \nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, January 12th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP\, Stamford\, CT\nTickets: $20 Members\, $30 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\n2026\nJanuary 12th - What Just Happened in Venezuela?\nFebruary 9th - *Topic TBA\nMarch 9th\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-january-2026/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:Briefing: Maduro's Capture & the Future of U.S.-Venezuela Relations
DESCRIPTION:What just happened in Venezuela?  \nJoin us for a special virtual briefing with Amb. Charles Shapiro\, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (2002-2004)\, on the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. troops in Caracas and what’s next for U.S.-Venezuela relations. \nCo-moderated by Aaron Rosen\, President & Founder of the World Affairs Council of Miami and Rickey Bevington\, President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. \nFeatures special commentary on counter-narcotics by former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno\, former U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia. \nDetails\nWednesday\, January 7 | 12:00pm ET\nZoom Webinar \n\n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times.\nAmbassador Luis G. Moreno \nAmbassador Moreno previously served as U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia and was instrumental in planning and implementing Plan Colombia (a U.S. foreign aid and military initiative aimed at supporting counter-narcotics in Colombia) \n\nPresented by
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/briefing-maduros-capture-us-venezuela/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:Holiday Open House
DESCRIPTION:You’re invited to a fun and festive happy hour open house with fellow World Affairs Council members\, board of directors\, and special guests. Featuring festive drinks and snacks\, and – above all – the chance to connect\, discuss everything that happened in the world this year\, and meet a new connection at the Council. We can’t wait to see you there. \nThe Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, Dec. 17 | 5:00PM – 7:00PM\nWhere: World Affairs Council Office\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required\nFree Parking on site | Festive Refreshments and light bites \n RSVP  \n\n\n \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/holiday-open-house-2025/
LOCATION:World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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UID:10000396-1765306800-1765310400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Venezuela and the U.S.: What Comes Next?
DESCRIPTION:Gunboat diplomacy\, armed conflict\, or all-out regime change? As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rachet up\, all outcomes and more seem to be on the table. \nThe U.S. has declared an armed conflict with Venezuela\, increased military pressure in the Caribbean\, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of heading Cartel de los Soles\, recently declared to be a foreign terrorist organization. Simultaneously\, President Trump has indicated an openness to talks with his Venezuelan counterpart. \nIs the U.S. headed towards war with Venezuela? \nFormer Ambassador to Venezuela\, Charles Shapiro\, joins us to unpack everything we know about the potential of further U.S. military action and what could come next. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Amb. Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, Dec. 9 | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times. \nModerated by\n \nMegan Clark Torrey \nCEO\, World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nMegan Clark Torrey is the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. In 2016\, she founded the Global Security Forum – a globally recognized forum for defense and security hosted annually in Hartford\, CT. \nIn 2022\, Megan participated in the Secretary of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC93)\, and in 2023 was nominated by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to be the first U.S. Navy Community Ambassador to Connecticut. \nBefore joining the Council in 2003\, she worked with UNESCO’s International Year for the Culture of Peace at its headquarters in Paris and the UN International Training & Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Megan holds two degrees in International Relations and Diplomacy. \n\nPresented by\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/venezuela-and-the-u-s-what-comes-next/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20251120T194016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T163708Z
UID:10000397-1765216800-1765222200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | December
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, December 8th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-december-2025/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20251112T212908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T212851Z
UID:10000395-1765195200-1765198800@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The World Ahead 2026
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, The Economist publishes The World Ahead series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more\, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. \nOn December 8\, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation with Jim Falk\, host of WorldNow. \nJoin us to unpack all of the trends that will define 2026 – from a possible AI bubble and global climate policy controversies to evolving global conflicts\, problems for Europe\, and China’s rise. \nThe details: \nWhen: Monday\, December 8 | 12:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Economist\nTom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual\, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books\, including Writing on the Wall (2013)\, The Victorian Internet (1998)\, and A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times\, Daily Telegraph\, The Guardian\, and Wired. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\n Add to calendar\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-world-ahead-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/World-Ahead.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251207
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250702T170905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T172554Z
UID:10000380-1764892800-1765065599@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Model United Nations 2025
DESCRIPTION:The CTWAC Model United Nations brings together over 1\,100 Connecticut high school students to engage in debate and diplomacy\, preparing them to become our future leaders. \nThe Council’s MUN program is exclusively student-run\, offering students opportunities to take leadership positions and negotiate with peers. Students experience the inner workings of diplomacy as they tackle global controversies\, navigate crisis scenarios\, debate solutions\, and draft resolutions. Delegates also have the opportunity to travel to the UN Headquarters in New York\, meet diplomats from the countries they’ll represent\, and discuss timely issues with the policymakers currently working to solve them. \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s Model UN began in 1952 at Hartford Public High School and is now one of the largest and longest continuously running Model UN programs in the world. In its 73 years\, the program has impacted over 55\,000 students across Connecticut. \n\nLearn more about the CTWAC Model UN program and how to get involved here. \n\n\nParticipating Connecticut Schools\n \n\nSponsors\n \n \n  \nRoz & Alan Spier \n\nModel UN’s impact on the students: \n“I learned new skills every year I participated\, and though this was my last year with MUN\, the skills I’m walking away with are ones that I will carry with me forever.” \n“Through MUN\, I was able to craft my own opinions on our world’s pressing issues and work to create a resolution to solve them.” \n“Model UN gave me a place to learn more about the world\, while also giving me an outlet to better my public speaking skills and my research skills.” \n\nAbout the World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut (CTWAC) is a non-profit\, non-partisan organization founded in 1924. Through community engagement and collaboration\, the World Affairs Council of Connecticut creates experiences that explore critical global issues and promote a greater understanding of the world. Learn more about what we do here and how you can get involved. You can also connect with us on Facebook\, Instagram\, LinkedIn and YouTube.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/model-united-nations-2025/
LOCATION:University of Hartford\, 200 Bloomfield Ave\, West Hartford\, CT\, 06117\, US
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MUN-2025-website.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250923T231128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T131443Z
UID:10000390-1763487000-1763492400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:[SOLD OUT] Hon. Kevin Rudd\, Australia's Ambassador to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:This event is sold out. Please contact us at (860) 241-6118 with special requests. \nJoin us for an exclusive off-the-record conversation with the Honorable Kevin Rudd\, Ambassador of Australia to the U.S.\, 26th Prime Minister of Australia\, and former President of the Asia Society\, at the signature event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \nAmbassador Rudd will offer expert insight on the future of the U.S.-Australia alliance\, security and economic cooperation through AUKUS\, relations with China\, and Australia’s role on the global stage. This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with one of the world’s most respected voices in international affairs. \nModerated by CNN’s Jim Sciutto\, chief national security analyst and anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto. \nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, November 18th | 5:30pm – 7:00pm ET\nWhere: Mark Twain House\, Hartford CT\nTickets: $40 General Admission | $30 CTWAC Member Admission\nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.\nNot sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org. \n\nWith Special Guests\nH.E. The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC\nAmbassador of Australia to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister of Australia \nHE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC is Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America\, taking up his posting in Washington in March 2023. \nAmbassador Rudd served as Australia’s twenty-sixth Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010\, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs\, before a second term as Prime Minister in 2013. He was Member for Griffith in the Australian Parliament from 1998 to 2013. \nSince leaving government\, Ambassador Rudd has resided in the United States where he is recognised as a leading analyst of China. In 2015\, he became inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. In 2020\, he was appointed President and CEO of the Asia Society globally and\, in 2022\, he founded the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. \nLearn more about Ambassador Rudd here. \n  \nJim Sciutto \nCNN’s chief national security analyst & anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto  \nSciutto reports and provides analysis on all aspects of U.S. national security including foreign policy\, the military\, intelligence community and the State Department. \nThroughout his career\, he has reported from more than 50 countries across the globe including dozens of assignments from inside Iraq\, Afghanistan and Iran\, as well as multiple assignments in Ukraine and the Middle East. Sciutto has also served as chief of staff and senior advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to China\, Gary Locke. \nSciutto is the author of four books\, including the New York Times Bestseller\, The Return of Great Powers: Russia\, China and the Next World War\, which examines the breakdown of a decades-old international order among the world’s strongest powers. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty – the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/conversation-with-hon-kevin-rudd-ambassador-of-australia-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Mark Twain House & Museum\, 351 Farmington Avenue\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250808T202653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T170917Z
UID:10000383-1762974000-1762977600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul
DESCRIPTION:Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy\, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China\, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world. \nIn Autocrats vs. Democrats\, Ambassador McFaul makes the case for democracy and defines the threats posed by China\, Russia\, and America’s shift to isolationism to the global international order as we know it. \nJoin us November 12th to hear exclusive insight from Ambassador McFaul\, the leading Russia and Eurasian affairs expert\, on his forthcoming book and his vision of American leadership on the world stage. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, November 12th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\nAmbassador Michael McFaul\nU.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014) \nAmbassador McFaul is a Professor of Political Science\, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. He is also an international affairs analyst for NBC News. \nPreviously\, he served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009–2012) and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation in (2012-2014). He has authored several books\, including\, most recently\, the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Book\nAutocrats vs. Democrats: China\, Russia\, America\, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul \nA bold\, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order\, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat. \nThe rise of China\, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine\, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended\, and a new Cold War has begun. \nIn this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States\, China\, and Russia over the past three centuries\, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking\, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA. \nOne of the preeminent thinkers on American foreign policy for decades\, McFaul crafts a new grand strategy for America in this age of global disorder. Acknowledging how Xi’s China\, Putin’s Russia\, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system\, Autocrats vs Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world\, detailing why: \n\nRussia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.\nChina’s capabilities should not be overestimated.\nTrump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.\n\nAt once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies\, Autocrats vs Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats\, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage. \nPre-order a copy of Autocrats vs. Democrats\, coming October 28th\, 2025 \n\n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, Global Santa Fe\, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. \n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-new-global-disorder-amb-michael-mcfaul/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250917T151957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T162108Z
UID:10000386-1762797600-1762803000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | November
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, November 10th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nDecember 8th - *Topic TBA\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025 \nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-november/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250923T230452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T200108Z
UID:10000389-1762450200-1762455600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Conversation with H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S. | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:We’re thrilled to be joined by H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.\, for this special edition of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. We’ll discuss everything from the transformation of U.S.-Mexico relations to the impact of tariffs and remittance taxes\, and the future of security cooperation. \nThursday\, November 6 | 5:30-7:00pm\nStudio A\, World Affairs Council\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: $40 General Admission | $25 CTWAC Member Admission \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.\nNot sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org. \n\nAbout the Ambassador\nH.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\nAmbassador of Mexico to the U.S. \nAmbassador Esteban Moctezuma was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to the United States of America by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He was ratified by the Senate of the Republic in February 2021 with 115 votes in favor of 116 attending senators. \nHe was secretary of public education since 2018. A former Senator\, he also previously served as Secretary of Social Development; Secretary of Interior; and more. He was responsible for implementing the autonomy of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (1994). \nIn civil society\, he served as Executive President of Fundación Azteca (2001-2018); as well as many more community organizations dedicated to public health and education. Ambassador Moctezuma has been a columnist for several Mexican newspapers and has written several books. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/conversation-with-the-ambassador-of-mexico-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Studio A at CT Public\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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SUMMARY:Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World
DESCRIPTION:Presented by the World Affairs Council of Alaska \nWhat do okra\, chocolate\, and economic theory have in common? Join the Alaska World Affairs Council for a thought-provoking conversation with renowned economist and bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang as he explores the surprising connections between food\, economics\, and global change. \nDrawing from his latest work\, Edible Economics\, Chang uses the stories behind everyday foods to illuminate big questions about globalization\, climate change\, inequality\, and the future of capitalism. Through humor\, insight\, and real-world examples\, he challenges conventional thinking and offers fresh ways to understand the forces shaping our world. \nThis is not your average economics talk — it’s a global feast for curious minds. \nWhen: Monday\, November 3rd | 3pm-4pm Eastern\nWhere: Zoom Webinar \n\n\nAbout the Speaker\nHa-Joon Chang is a Distinguished Research Professor of economics\, as well as Co-director of CSST (Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation) and of DLD (Development Leadership Dialogue) at SOAS University of London. Previously he taught at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge (1990-2022). In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters\, he has published 17 authored books (five co-authored) and 11 edited books (seven co-edited). His main books include The Political Economy of Industrial Policy (1994)\, Kicking Away the Ladder (2002)\, Bad Samaritans (2007)\, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism (2010)\, Economics: The User’s Guide (2014)\, and Edible Economics (2022). His writings have been translated and published in 46 languages and 48 countries. Worldwide\, his books have sold around 3 million copies. Chang has advised numerous international organizations\, national governments\, civil society organizations\, and corporations (both private-sector and public). He is currently a member of CDP (Committee for Development Policy)\, the highest advisory body of the United Nations on development issues\, as well as committees overseeing or advising other international organizations\, academic bodies\, and charitable organisations. Chang is the winner of the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize and the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize. \n\nAbout the Moderator\nLise Kristiansen\, born and raised in Anchorage\, Alaska\, serves as the Norwegian Honorary Consul for Alaska and Advisor to the Alaska World Affairs Council. From 2007 to 2023\, she was President and CEO of the Alaska World Affairs Council\, where she developed high-impact programs featuring more than 450 world leaders\, including diplomats\, NATO commanders\, policymakers\, public officials\, presidents\, and royalty. \nLise has been recognized for her leadership and civic contributions\, including being named one of Anchorage’s Top 40 Under 40\, inducted into the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Athena Society\, and honored as Leader of the Year by the National World Affairs Councils of America — selected from 94 council leaders nationwide. \nA frequent speaker on Arctic and international affairs\, Lise has shared her expertise both nationally and internationally. In recognition of her contributions to Norway-Alaska relations\, she was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit\, Knight 1st Class\, by the King of Norway. \nLise has a passion for sports and music\, including playing the piano\, and has participated in 6 Ironman Triathlons including the Ironman World Championship in Kona\, Hawaii.  During her free time\, you can often find her on a nearby pickleball court. \n\nHosted By\n \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/edible-economics-a-hungry-economist-explains-the-world/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251022T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251022T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20251007T161521Z
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SUMMARY:Unraveling Order with David Sanger: Russia\, China\, & the U.S. | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:RSVP Today\nWith geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty on the rise\, we’re thrilled to bring back David Sanger\, Chief White House & National Security Correspondent for The New York Times\, for this special event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \nA four-time GSF fan-favorite\, David is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of New Cold Wars: China’s Rise\, Russia’s Invasion\, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize\, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. \nJoin us on October 22nd at the historic Mark Twain House and hear from one of the top experts in foreign policy and global security. \n\nWednesday\, October 22nd | 7:00-8:00pm | Mark Twain House\, Hartford\, CT\nDoors open 6:30pm\nTickets: $55 General Admission | $40 Member Admission\nThe first 8 people to register will win a free copy of one of David’s books \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n Unlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout. \nIf you are a federal employee who is furloughed\, you are invited to attend this event free of charge. Contact Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org to RSVP. \n\nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nDavid Sanger\nChief White House and National Security Correspondent\, The New York Times \nDavid E. Sanger is the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the bestselling author of The Inheritance\, Confront and Conceal\, and The Perfect Weapon. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize\, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. A contributor to CNN\, he also teaches national security policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/unraveling-order-david-sanger-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Mark Twain House & Museum\, 351 Farmington Avenue\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T124000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:The Threat of Nuclear Anarchy with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:Nuclear risks are rising. At the same time global nonproliferation efforts are unraveling. A Harvard taskforce has just warned of a new “era of nuclear anarchy.” \nAs the temperature of the nuclear threat heats up\, we sit down with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins\, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024). Join us for an inside look at these new – and old – threats. \nThe Details\nWhen: Monday\, October 20th | 12:00pm – 12:40pm ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required | Suggested $20 Donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\nAmbassador Bonnie Jenkins\nFormer Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024) \nAs the under secretary of state for arms control and international security from 2021 to 2024\, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control\, Deterrence and Stability; International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and Political-Military Affairs. In May 2023\, Secretary of State Antony Blinken named Jenkins\, the first African American to serve as an under secretary of state\, as the department’s lead on implementation of AUKUS\, the trilateral security partnership between Australia\, the United Kingdom\, and the United States. \nJenkins served as special envoy for cooperative threat reduction programs in the ISN bureau from July 2009 until January 2017. She coordinated U.S. government efforts alongside international programs that prevent non-state actors from developing chemical\, biological\, or nuclear weapons. She was the State Department’s lead for the President’s Nuclear Security Summits and the U.S. representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction\, and she led diplomatic efforts to promote the Global Health Security Agenda. She was the 2016 ISN nominee for the Secretary of State’s Award for Excellence. \nFrom its inception in 2017 until April 2021\, Jenkins was the founder\, executive director\, and board chair of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security. From 2005 to 2009\, she was the program officer for U.S. foreign and security policy at the Ford Foundation. She also served as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). \nJenkins was a legal adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law School\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service\, George Washington University\, the University of Virginia\, the University of Texas at Austin\, and the University of Minnesota. Jenkins designed and led arms control simulations at Stanford University. Jenkins is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events held throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the entire 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/unraveling-order-the-threat-of-nuclear-anarchy-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251013T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251013T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | October
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow friends and members of the World Affairs Council over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, October 13th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nNovember 10th - *Topic TBA\nDecember 8th\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-october/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T183000
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SUMMARY:The Great Emu War: An Emusical Comedy and Private Reception
DESCRIPTION:In this special partnership between the Council and Goodspeed Musicals\, you’ll not only get to see a hilarious comedy about the war between Australia and a flock of emus (that actually happened!)\, but you’ll also join a private Council reception and meet and greet with the writers behind the show. \nThe Great Emu War: Remember that one time that the Australian government sent their army with machine guns to wage war on emus in Western Australia? Neither do most people…but when Edith\, the headstrong warbler\, and her flock begin to feed on the wheat of local farmers–the humans take up arms against Australia’s favorite feathered friends. Think of it as Cats\, but with emus. It’s the most emusing 90 minutes you’ll have in any theatre–don’t miss it! \nThursday\, October 9 | 6:30pm | The Terris Theatre\, Chester\, CT \nSchedule:\n6:30pm | Private Council Reception and Meet and Greet with Writers\n7:30pm | Show Start Time: The Great Emu War\n9:00pm | Talk Back with Creatives Behind the Show \n\n\nRegistration Directions: \n\nClick October 9 at 7:30pm show\nIn the Passcode Field\, enter the passcode: WACEMU \nYou’ll unlock special seating and pricing (aqua colored)\nChoose your seats\nProceed to checkout and we’ll see you at the show!\n\n\nIn Partnership With\n \n  \n  \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n  \n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-great-emu-war/
LOCATION:The Terris Theatre\, 33 North Main Street\, Chester\, CT\, 06412
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250923T202930Z
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SUMMARY:Special Intelligence Briefing with LTG Robert Ashley\, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:You’re invited to a member-exclusive live intelligence briefing with LTG Robert Ashley\, U.S. Army (Ret.)\, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency\, moderated by MG Garrett Yee\, U.S. Army (Ret.). \nGeneral Ashley will share high-level insights on global threats from Iran-Israel tensions to the future of Ukraine\, and from emerging technologies to what national security leaders are watching most closely. Limited audience Q&A will follow this closed-door-style Zoom webinar. \nDon’t miss the return of these two top intelligence leaders and GSF fan-favorite speakers. RSVP today.  \nWhen: Tuesday\, October 7th | 7:00pm – 8:00pm ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge for members* \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n*This event is exclusive to current members of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and GSF Presenting Partners. \nNot a member?\nBecome a member of the World Affairs Council today in order to access this special briefing by selecting the Membership & Virtual Ticket Combo during registration. Or join on our website and consider our additional levels\, including for students\, young professionals\, your household\, or your business\, at ctwac.org/membership/ \n\nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nLTG Robert Ashley\, U.S. Army (Ret.)\n21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; CEO\, Ashley Global Leadership and Security \nLieutenant General Robert P. Ashley\, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army November 2020 after over 36 years of activity duty service as an intelligence officer. He assumed his last duty position on 3 October 2017 when he became the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). \nLTG Ashley formerly served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff\, G-2\, where he was the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff for all aspects of intelligence\, counterintelligence and security. He has commanded at the company\, battalion\, squadron\, and brigade levels with six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a squadron\, brigade commander\, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J-2).  Other key assignments include the Director of Intelligence\, United States Army Joint Special Operations Command; the Director of Intelligence\, United States Central Command; the Deputy Chief of Staff\, Intelligence\, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence\, United States Forces\, Afghanistan; and Commanding General and Commandant United States Army Intelligence Center and School Fort Huachuca\, AZ. \nLTG Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University\, a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (formerly known as the Defense Intelligence College) and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. LTG Ashley is the CEO of Ashley Global Leadership and Security (LLC). \n\nModerated By\n \nMG Garrett Yee\, USA (Ret.)\nVice President\, General Dynamics Information Technology \nGarrett Yee currently serves as a Vice President within the Defense Division at General Dynamics Information Technology. \nPrior to GDIT\, Garrett served in the U.S. Army retiring as Major General. In his final assignment with the Army\, Garrett served at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) where he helped to lead a global organization of approximately 8\,000 military and civilian personnel who plan\, develop\, deliver\, and operate joint\, interoperable\, command and control capabilities and a global enterprise infrastructure in direct support of the president\, secretary of defense\, joint chiefs of staff\, combatant commanders\, Department of Defense components\, and other mission partners across the full spectrum of operations. \nPrior to his assignment at DISA\, Garrett served as the Military Deputy to the Army CIO/G-6 and Senior Information Security Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G6\, Headquarters\, Department of the Army in the Pentagon. Garrett holds a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University\, a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College\, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/special-intelligence-briefing-ltg-robert-ashley-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250924T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250924T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
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SUMMARY:Celebrating 250 Years of the U.S. Navy | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special evening as we celebrate 250 years of the U.S. Navy. We’re thrilled to welcome you to a memorable gathering with senior Navy leadership and a special opportunity to meet the crew of the USS Hartford in her namesake city. \nYou’ll have the chance to meet the people behind the uniform. You’ll also hear directly from Rear Admiral Ryan M. Perry\, Navy Chief of Information\, about the evolution of the role of the U.S. Navy and the course the Navy is charting for the future of national and global security. \nThe USS Hartford is a Los Angeles-class\, nuclear-powered fast attack submarine – the class that forms the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force. She was first commissioned in 1994 at the Naval Sub Base in Groton\, CT\, and deployed for 6 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. \nCome learn about the history of the U.S. Navy and meet the people who are shaping the future. Reception includes specialty American & international bites and refreshments. \nThe Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, September 24th | 6:00pm – 8:00pm ET\nWhere: Studio A\, CTWAC Office | 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford CT\nTickets: $45 General Admission | $35 CTWAC Member Admission \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.\nNot sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org. \n\nWith Special Guest\nRear Admiral Ryan M. Perry\nU.S. Navy Chief of Information \nRear Adm. Ryan M. Perry is a native of Fort Lauderdale\, Florida. He is a 1997 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and is accredited in public relations and military communication. \nA career public affairs officer (PAO)\, Perry has served as force PAO for Naval Special Warfare; fleet PAO for U.S. Third Fleet; special assistant (public affairs) to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and deputy PAO to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. \nLearn more about Rear Admiral Perry here. \n\nThis event is the Opening Event of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF will expand from its traditional form of a one-day gathering into a series of over 10 in-person and virtual events held throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We will explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/celebrating-250-years-us-navy-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Studio A at CT Public\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250924
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251122
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20241119T194543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T204441Z
UID:10000353-1758672000-1763769599@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Global Security Forum 2025 Series | Unraveling Order
DESCRIPTION:You’re invited to the GSF2025 Series. Throughout the Fall\, national and international leaders will be addressing the Council community in a new\, dynamic series of in person and virtual events. Join us to go behind the headlines on the issues reshaping our world. \nGSF2025: Unraveling Order explores the edge of uncertainty – the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. We gather the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\n\nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) – for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nGSF2025 Events\nCelebrating 250 Years of the U.S. Navy | September 24\, 2025\, Hartford \nSpecial Intelligence Briefing with LTG Robert Ashley\, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | October 7\, 2025\, Virtual \nThe Threat of Nuclear Anarchy with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins | October 20\, 2025\, Virtual \nUnraveling Order with David Sanger: Russia\, China\, & the U.S. | October 22\, 2025\, Hartford \nA Conversation with the Ambassador of Mexico | November 6\, 2025\, Hartford \nThe New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul | November 12\, 2025\, Virtual \nKeynote: China's Rise and the World Order with Hon. Kevin Rudd\, Australia's Ambassador to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister | November 18\, 2025\, Hartford \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and - most essentially - a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the entire 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \n\nGSF2025 Sponsors\n \n\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security. \n\n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/global-security-forum-2025/
LOCATION:CT
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250709T191345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250908T205308Z
UID:10000381-1757959200-1757964600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | September
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, September 15th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nRegistration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants. \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nOctober 13th - *Topic TBA\nNovember 10th \n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-september-2025/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250723T203555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T202255Z
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SUMMARY:A Tale of Two Kings: Saudi Arabia\, Jordan\, and the Future of Power in the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:Join us to learn about the two most consequential leaders shaping the future of the Middle East. RSVP now. \nSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – de facto ruler of one of the wealthiest states in the Middle East – has positioned himself as a transformative leader. His rule is defined by economic and social change\, a close relationship with President Trump\, and concerns about human rights abuses and power consolidation. \nJordan’s King Abdullah II leads one of the region’s most economically challenged countries with a steady hand and traditional approach. His rule is characterized by alliance building and cautious political reform\, while also stifling political opposition. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk for an inside look at two very different yet consequential leaders who are shaping the future of the Middle East – and redefining what it means to be king in the 21st century. With Pulitzer Prize-Winner Karen Elliot House\, author of The Man Who Would be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia and Aaron Magid\, author of The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, September 9th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Authors\nKaren Elliott House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist with nearly five decades of experience covering Saudi Arabia. She is also a former executive of Dow Jones & Company and former chair of the Rand Corp. Her deep expertise informs her latest book\, The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia\, which draws on more than half a dozen in-depth interviews with the Crown Prince himself. House spent over 30 years at The Wall Street Journal\, serving as a reporter\, editor\, and ultimately publisher. She resides in Princeton\, New Jersey. \n\nAaron Magid is a former Amman-based journalist and the author of the recently published The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. His analysis on the Hashemite Kingdom has appeared in Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Al-Monitor\, the Atlantic Council\, France 24\, Al-Jazeera\, and the Middle East Institute. He hosts the podcast On Jordan. He obtained a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Books\nThe Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed Bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House \nPulitzer Prize-winning reporter and former Wall Street Journal publisher\, Karen House has gained unprecedented insights into Saudi Arabia and its controversial leader\, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through her more than forty years of experience covering the Arab kingdom. \nHouse reveals a leader who\, like Peter the Great\, is a reformer determined to modernize his kingdom but also an autocrat who jails political opponents and rival princes to assure his grip on power. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Crown Prince\, his royal relatives\, and his inner ring of advisors\, The Man Who Would Be King explains in full what shaped the man who is reshaping Saudi Arabia. It is an unprecedented and much needed in-depth portrait of the leader who\, at only thirty-nine\, will be a major player on the world stage for the next half century. \nGet a copy of The Man Who Would Be King on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. \n\nThe Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan by Aaron Magid \nThe first comprehensive biography on Jordan's King Abdullah\, The Most American King details Abdullah's rise to power\, survival amid protests from Jordanians\, and his efforts to cement an alliance with Washington. \nAaron Magid\, a former Amman-based journalist\, charts Abdullah's path to power from a Massachusetts prep school to a British military academy to the throne\, and reveals how Abdullah has remained in power for over a quarter century. While leaders nearby were ousted during the 2011 Arab Spring protests\, Abdullah survived the wave of discontent. Drawing on interviews with over 100 of King Abdullah's classmates\, former Jordanian ministers\, and CIA directors\, The Most American King offers a thorough account of this key Arab leader. \nGet a copy of The Most American King. \n\n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, Global Santa Fe\, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. \n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/a-tale-of-two-kings/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T123000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250626T185347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185740Z
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SUMMARY:U.S. Strikes on Iran with Steven Cook
DESCRIPTION:RSVP today \nIn the last week\, the U.S. struck nuclear facilities across Iran and coordinated a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran\, after more than a week of the two sides exchanging attacks on military sites and cities. \nDr. Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations joins us live to answer all of your questions including: \n\nDid U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites achieve their objective?\nCan we expect the conflict between Israel and Iran to escalate?\nIs the U.S. at risk of entering an intractable conflict in the Middle East?\nWhat comes next for Israel\, Iran\, and the U.S.?\n\nBring your questions or submit them early to the Council team and join us live on Tuesday\, July 1 from 12-12:30pm as we discuss all the breaking developments in the Israel-Iran conflict. \nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, July 1 | 12:00PM – 12:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nRSVP today \n\n\n Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nFeaturing\nSteven Cook | Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations \nSteven A. Cook is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of False Dawn: Protest\, Democracy\, and Violence in the New Middle East; The Struggle for Egypt: From Nasser to Tahrir Square\, which won the 2012 gold medal from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Ruling but Not Governing: The Military and Political Development in Egypt\, Algeria\, and Turkey. Cook is also the author of the recently published\, The End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present\, and Future in the Middle East. \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/u-s-strikes-on-iran-steven-cook/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250624T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250624T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250527T181343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T191444Z
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SUMMARY:Empty Vessel with Ian Kumekawa: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge
DESCRIPTION:In his newly published Empty Vessel\, Harvard economic historian Ian Kumekawa tells the history of the global economy through a single barge: which throughout the 20th century served as a floating prison\, military barracks\, housing for migrant workers\, serviced offshore oil rigs\, and anything else the market demanded. \nIan Kumekawa joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the making and offshoring of the modern global economy – from mass incarceration\, tax havens\, and fossil fuel extraction to military power and deregulation. We’ll also discuss what the story reveals about the global economy today and the administration’s increased use of offshore prisons\, tariffs\, and economic nationalism. \n“Kumekawa gives us a ‘barge’s-eye view’ of what his protagonist witnessed…tracing how the vessel became a passive yet essential participant in a rapidly changing world. Empty Vessel joins a growing shelf of books about the new forms that globalization is taking” – Jennifer Szalai\, New York Times\n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, June 24th | 7:00PM – 7:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 Donation | RSVP Required\nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nAbout the Book\nEmpty Vessel: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge by Ian Kumekawa \nThe rise of globalization and financialization as seen from a barge—one Swedish barge\, to be exact\, built in 1979\nWhat do a barracks for British troops in the Falklands War\, a floating jail off the Bronx\, and temporary housing for VW factory workers in Germany have in common? A single barge that served all three roles. \nEmpty Vessel follows the many lives of a barge—from floating jail to troopship—revealing how a single vessel housed soldiers\, prisoners\, and migrant workers\, playing a role in mass incarceration\, tax havens\, military power\, and fossil fuel extraction. Kumekawa has crafted an astounding\, narrative-driven microhistory in which the forces of globalization converge on one barge\, exposing the infrastructure behind the political economy of the late 20th century. \nKumekawa connects the barge’s different uses with shifts in the global economy\, demonstrating how the Vessel came to represent tax havens\, exploited labor forces\, free banking zones\, Thatcherism\, Reaganomics\, and mass incarceration. The result\, as Eric Klinenberg puts it\, is “a brilliant\, unforgettable tale of our modern times.” \nGet a copy of Empty Vessel on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. \n\nMeet the Author\n \nIan Kumekawa is a historian of economic thinking and capitalism at the Center for History and Economics at Harvard University and a Lecturer at MIT. He is the author of The First Serious Optimist (2017)\, which examines the intellectual origins of welfare economics and won the Joseph J. Spengler Prize. He hails from Clinton\, CT and now lives in Boston. Learn more about Ian here.  \n  \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, Global Santa Fe\, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/empty-vessel-with-ian-kumekawa-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250610T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250610T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20241217T180400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T165152Z
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SUMMARY:The Diplomat + Luminary Award 2025
DESCRIPTION:This event is sold out. For last-minute accommodations\, please contact our office at (860) 241-6118.\nHonoring Donald Allan\, Jr.\, President & CEO of Stanley Black & Decker with the Luminary Award \nMark your calendar for an unforgettable evening of international connection at The Diplomat. Hartford’s most anticipated global event brings together over 50 Consuls General and Ambassadors to connect with Connecticut’s business\, government\, and community leaders. \nFor the first time ever\, this year The Diplomat will host the iconic Luminary Award. The Council is proud to recognize Donald Allan\, Jr.\, President & CEO of Stanley Black & Decker\, as the 2025 Luminary Award Recipient for his global impact and innovative leadership. \nRSVP today to be part of this exclusive international event – where diplomacy meets community\, and the world meets Connecticut. \nSecure your spot now | Learn more about becoming a sponsor \n\nThe 2025 Luminary Award\nDonald Allan\, Jr.\nPresident & CEO\, Stanley Black & Decker \nThe Council is thrilled to award the 2025 Luminary Award to Donald Allan\, Jr.\, President and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker for his global leadership in industry and innovation. \n  \n\nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, June 10th | 6:00pm – 8:00pm\nWhere: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Hartford\, CT\nTickets: $99 Members | $125 Non-Members | $250 Patron \nRSVP today \n\n\n *You may call us to RSVP at (860) 241-6118 to pay directly and avoid ticket processing fees. \nUnlock this special member pricing by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council today. Join on our website or add the membership add-on to your ticket during checkout. \n\nWith Representations from\n \n\nSponsored by\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by becoming a sponsor. Learn about sponsorship opportunities for The Diplomat 2025 here.\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \n\nStay Globally Involved\nBecome a member or renew today. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-diplomat-2025/
LOCATION:Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art\, 600 Main Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06103\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250609T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250609T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250505T155147Z
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | June
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, June 9th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nRegistration is on a “first-come” basis and is limited to 20 participants. \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nJul 14th - *Topic TBA \n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th: Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th: The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th: Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th: Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th: War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th: Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-june-2025/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T203559
CREATED:20250424T160352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T134049Z
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SUMMARY:[SOLD OUT] Canada\, Mexico\, & U.S.: The Future of North America
DESCRIPTION:This event is SOLD OUT. Please call us at (860) 241-6118 if there are any questions/concerns.\nA Conversation with Consuls General of Canada and Mexico\nAre major shifts in U.S. policy pushing our neighbors to the north and south away? Or will this reordering create pathways for a more productive and secure North American neighborhood? \nJoin us for a conversation with Consuls General representing Mexico and Canada on their view of a new relationship with the United States. We’ll discuss everything from the impact of tariffs and border and migration policy to increasingly hostile rhetoric between the leaders of these traditional allies\, partners\, and neighbors. \nFeaturing Consul General Tom Clark\, Consul General of Canada in New York and Consul General Alberto Fierro\, Consul General of Mexico in Boston. \nDoors open 5:30pm for mingling and light reception. RSVP today. \nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, May 20 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm\nWhere: Studio A\, World Affairs Council of Connecticut | 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: $35 General Admission | $25 Member Admission | SOLD OUT \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities.\nBecome a member today to unlock special member pricing for events like these all year. \n\nFeaturing\nTom Clark |Consul General of Canada in New York \nPrior to being appointed Consul General in New York by Prime Minister Trudeau\, Tom Clark served as Chair of Global Public Affairs\, one of the largest public affairs and strategic communications firms in Canada. His private sector clients included senior executives in Canada and internationally who sought public policy and strategic communications advice on key business and investment decisions. He was a frequent speaker to business groups and associations across the country as well as a sought after advisor to governments\, both in Canada and abroad. \nPrior to his work in the business community\, Consul General Clark was one of Canada’s most respected broadcast journalists. During his 45 year career\, he was posted as Bureau Chief to Washington DC and China\, in addition to working in more than 30 countries\, including tours in eight active war zones. His work earned him numerous awards in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Clark is a licensed pilot who has flown extensively in Canada’s north. He is married to Jane Clark and has three daughters. \n\nAlberto Fierro-Garza | Consul General of Mexico in Boston \nA Mexican career diplomat since 1993\, he previously was the head of the splendid Cultural Institute of the Mexican Embassy in Washington\, D.C. He was the Consul of Mexico in Orlando\, FL and in St. Paul\, MN. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, he served as Director General for Educational and Cultural Cooperation and as Deputy Director General for North America. Alberto was Director General for International Affairs at the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico. He served also as Director of the Social Promotion Department at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. He holds a BA in Sociology from that university and a Masters in Latin-American History from Georgetown University. He lives with his husband David\, his companion for more than 26 years. \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/canada-mexico-us-the-future-of-north-america/
LOCATION:Studio A at CT Public\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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